Milk delivery box



Oct. 13, 1936. J. A. Hopwoon 2,057,489

MILK DELIVERY BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 Filed March 21, 1956 INVENTOR. JohnHop W000 A ORNEY. v

Oct. 13, 1936. J. A. HOPWOOD MILK DELIVERY BOX 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 FiledMarch 21, 1936 v INVENTOR. Hopwaoo I John 4 BY QM (ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 13, 1936 UNITED sTATEs MILK DELIVERY BOX John A. Hopwood,Great Neck, N. Y.

Application March ,21, 1936, Serial No. 70,040

15 Claims. (01. 217 1.9)

This invention relates to milk deliveryv boxes and is directed moreparticularly to abo-x adapted for the handling of milk in papercontainers of frusto conical form. In boxes ordinarily employed for thehandling of milk, the interior of the box is divided into a series ofcompartments adapted to receive glass milk bottles individually, butsuch boxes are not suitable for the delivery of milk when packaged inconical paper containers. The walls of thecontainers are notsufficiently strong to stand lateral impact of the containers againstthe partitions in a box, and when such impact occurs, it deforms thecontainer and is 'apt to rupture the same. Consequently, experience hasshown that, when paper containers are to be handled, they must be packedin an entirely different way and in a box adapted for this particularpurpose, and the object of the invention is to provide such a box.

In practically carrying out the invention, the box is provided with fourwalls and a suitable bottom which may conveniently be in the form ofspaced apart slats on which the containers are adapted to rest. Saidcontainers, in accordance with the present invention, are supported onthe bottom of the box in alternate upright and inverted condition, sothat said containers interfit with one another to form a tight package,such as will tend to minimize lateral shifting of the containers. Suchlateral shifting is further minimized by providing spacer strips on theinterior walls of the box, located substantially midway of the height ofthe containers above the bottom of the box and adapted to bear againstthose containers which are positioned next to the walls of said box in amanner to hold them in upright condition and to preclude any tendency ofthe containers to tilt. By positioning the spacer strips midway of theheight of the containers, the strips are adapted to properly cooperatewith those containers which are inverted, as well as those which arepositioned inupright relation.

To further maintain the containers against shifting the bottom of I thebox is preferably provided with projections which may extend above thefloor of the box or which may be produced by forming recesses in thefloor of the box, but, in any event, these projections are adapted toproject into the re-entrant tops or bottoms of the containers or both,thus effectually positioning the same in predetermined relation tooneanother.

As a further and positive safeguard against shifting or rattling of thecontainers, the box is provided with a clamping plate adapted to overlietheupper ends of the containers, as they are arranged in interfittingrelation within the box, and this plate is constructed ,to apply adownward pressure on to the upper ends of all of the containers byvirtue of an asssociated clamping device of resilient nature whichimparts to the clamping plate a yielding downward pressure and serves toclamp all of the containers firmly in position. The clamping plate is ofperforated or openwork character and is positioned sufficiently belowthe upper open top of the box to provide an ice compartment in whichcracked ice or solidified carbon dioxide may be received to maintain thecontents of the box at proper temperature.

Features of the invention, other than those adverted to, will beapparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when readin conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawingsillustrate different practical embodiments of the invention, but theconstructions therein shown are to be understood as illustrative, only,and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a plan View of a delivery box embodying the presentinvention. Certain portions of this view are broken away to showcontainers beneath the ice shelf, while certain containers are omittedto show the interior of the bottom of the box.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1, with parts of theclamping device in elevation.

Figure 3 is a fragmental plan View of a modified form of bottom slat.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3, showing one method ofsecuring the bottom slats to the end walls of the box.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the box has two side walls I and2 and two end walls 3 and 1 assembled at the four corners of the box toprovide a rectangular frame which may be, if desired, reinforced in anyappropriate way, such as by corner irons 5. The box is shown as havingassociated therewith stacking irons 6 at its four corners, althoughthese stacking irons may or may not be employed depending uponconditions. The bottom of the box is shown in the form of a plurality ofslats l. which extend longitudinally across the bottom of the box andare anchored to the opposite end walls 3 and 4 in any suitable way.

The bottom slats l are reinforced by a cross brace 8 extendingtransversely across the middle ur the box ,with its opposite ends turnedup and riveted art-*9 to the side walls I and 2. The bottom dges of thebox are shown as armored with meta channel sections 50.

,Ef' The particular box body employed is really immaterial, so far asdetails of construction are concerned, and may be conventional, theessential features being that it has side and end walls with anappropriate bottom. However, the walls I, 2, 3 and 4 should be somewhathigher than the usual, so as to extend above milk containers positionedin the box for reasons presently stated.

Milk containers of frusto conical form, indicated at H, are adapted tobe placed in upright, spaced apart, relation within the box withinterposed or interfitted similar containers l2 arranged in invertedrelation, and all resting on the bottom slats i, as shown in Figures 1and 2. I find it desirable to provide spacer strips l3 along the insidesof the box at an elevation midway of the height of the containers ll andI2, and these spacer strips are of such width that they will space thecontainers midway of their height from the sides and ends of the box andthus maintain them against tilting irrespective as to whether thecontainers are upright or inverted. These strips may be positioned alongall four walls of the box or merely along two opposite walls. This isoptional. They particularly assist in the placement of the containers inthe box in proper position.

To further assist in the positioning of the containers in the box inproper relation to one another, those portions of the bottom whichunderlie the inverted containers are preferably provided withprojections i l, shown as circular in form and of a size to project intothe recess in the small end of the container. In practice theseprojections M are preferably of a height to extend to the base of therecess of the container, so that, when a container is inverted andresting on one of these projections, the sealing cap l5 will seat on thetop of the projection and thus be reinforced and thereby precluded fromdislodgment by the liquid in the container if the box is dropped orforcibly set down. This arrangement is clearly shown in Figure 2,wherein the projection l4 shown in section is of a height to tightlyclamp the sealing cap [5 between said projection and the metal seat I6with which such containers are usually provided. The upper face of theprojection I4 is here shown as flat, but it may be slightly concave orre-entrant, if desired, so that the clamping action referred to isobtained without pressure against the cap l5 at its center. This willallow of slight bulging of the cap, such as frequently occurs,particularly during cold weather.

The projections M are shown in Figure 2 as formed separately from thebottom slats 1 and received in seats i! in the latter to be held inplace therein by screws, brads or otherwise. If desired, however, theprojections may be otherwise formed. They may be made independently ofthe bottom slats and secured thereto in any appropriate way or they maybe formed from the material of the bottom slats.

One way of accomplishing this result is shown in Figures 3 and 4-wherethe upper faces of the bottom slats are grooved or channeled, as shownat I 8, to provide projections M to fit into the small ends of thecontainers and also larger projections M to fit into the recesses in theupper ends of the containers, this being preferable with this type ofconstruction because the upper ends of all of the containers shouldoccupy substantially the same horizontal plane, in order that a pressureplate may cooperate with all of them in the manner next to be described.

The pressure plate I9 is made of a size to fit easily into the interiorof the box and rest upon the tops of the containers. It may be formed ofany appropriate material and in a wide variety of ways. Essentially itembodies a platform having openings therein and sufficiently strongthat, when pressed tightly against the tops of the containers, it willhold them in place. It may be made in the form of an appropriate framehaving therein a heavy wire mesh or screen or it may be made of othermaterial, but I find it economical, sanitary and efiicient to make thepressure plate 20 of openwork sheet metal having an appropriateperipheral binding 2!, which reinforces and strengthens the same. Theperforations 22 may be made of a size convenient to support ice withoutpermitting reasonably sized pieces of the ice to fall through.

The pressure plate is adapted to be laid on the tops of the containersand then placed under elastic pressure in the direction of the latter.Various means may be employed for this purpose, but I have found itconvenient to employ a clamping strip 23 of resilient metal pivoted atthe center of the plate by a rivet 24 and of a length greater than thetransverse interior dimension of the box. The side walls of the box, atabout the level of the upper ends of the containers, are provided withlongitudinally extending slots 25, the upper edges of which may beprovided with wear plates 26 of channel section and the clamping stripis adapted to be rotated about the pivot 24 and placed under tension, soas to enter the slots 25 and lock the pressure plate 19 in position withthe elastic pressure of the clamping strip imposed thereon in thedirection of the containers. A single clamping strip is shown in thedrawings,

although two or more, placed in spaced apart relation longitudinally ofthe box, may be employed and these clamping devices may be of otherconstruction without departing from this invention.

It will be noted that the clamping strip 23 has arched portions 21.These are provided in order that the strip may be more easily grippedand manipulated and to further increase the resiliency of said strip,although they may be omitted if desired and the strip made straight orfiat. It should be so associated with the plate, however, that it willclamp the plate under pressure sufficient to hold it in position and, inturn, clamp all of the containers between said plate and the bottom ofthe box.

It will be noted that the box is made somewhat deeper than the heightsof the containers, the purpose being to provide, above the pressureplate IS, an ice containing chamber 28 adapted to receive cracked ice orsolidified carbon dioxide, in such manner that the same will rest uponthe pressure plate l9, which is thus adapted to operate as an ice shelfto retain the ice from falling through the box.

' The perforations in this ice shelf allow free drainage of water andfurther permit the circulation of cooled air downwardly about thecontainers in order that they may be retained at the proper temperaturewithout actual contact with the ice.

m r The present invention provides for the compact and efficienttransportation of milk in frusto conical containers. The interfitting ofthe containers in alternate upright and inverted positions allows amaximum number of containers to be packed in a box of minimum size,while the various adjuncts to which I have referred in connection withthe position of the containers permit me to properly handle a boxcontaining less than a sufficient number of con tainers to fill thesame. In other Words, even though the box contains less than asuificient number of containers to fill the same, each and everycontainer therein will be locked in position, so that it cannot shiftand this looking or clamping, which I have described, is such as not toplace any undesirable stresses or pressure on any part of the container.The pressure transmitted through the pressure plate is takenlongitudinally through the side walls of the containers where it can donodamage, so that the containers are, in fact, suspended between theirends, and their sides, which are unable to. withstand much radialpressure, are not subjected to damaging stresses.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred, practical form, but the invention is to be understood asfully commensurate with the appended claims.

Having thus fully described the invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1. In adelivery box formilk containers, the combination of a box body having abottom and four wallsaof greater height than the containers housedtherein, an ice shelf overlying and resting upon and supported by thetops of said containers in spaced relation to the top of the box body toprovide in the upper portion of the box body above the ice shelf areceptacle for a refrigerant, and means for clamping the ice shelftightly in engagement with the containers to clamp the containers firmlybetween the ice shelf and the bottom of the box body.

2. In a delivery box for milk containers, the combination of a boxbodyhaving a bottom and four Walls of greater height than the containershoused therein, a perforated ice shelf overlying and resting upon andsupported by the tops of said containers in spaced relation to the topof the box body to provide in the upper portion of the box body abovethe ice shelf a receptacle for a refrigerant, and means for clamping theice shelf tightly in engagement with the containers to clamp thecontainers firmly between the ice shelf and the bottom of the box body.

3. In a delivery box for milk containers, the combination of a boxbodyhaving a bottom and four walls of greater height than the containershoused therein, an ice shelf substantially c0- extensive with theinterior horizontal cross sectional size of the box body overlying andresting upon and supported by the tops of the assembled containers andin spaced relation to the top of the box body to provide in the upperportion of the box body above the ice shelf a refrigerant container, andmeans for resiliently holding the ice shelf against the tops of thecontainers to clamp the containers tightly in position between the iceshelf and the bottom of theJoox body.

4. In a delivery box for milk containers, the combination of a box bodyhaving a bottom and four walls of greater height than containers 7 inghorizontally along the level of the ice shelf with substantiallyhorizontal abutments facing in the direction of the bottom of the boxbody, and a resilient clamp pivoted on the ice shelf and adapted to berotated about its pivotand placed under stress inengagement with saidabutments to press the ice shelf firmly against the tops of thecontainers and clamp the containers between the ice shelf and the bottomof the box body.

5. In a delivery box for milk containers, the combination of a box bodyhaving a bottom and four walls of greater height than the containershoused therein, an ice shelf positioned within the box body and restingupon the tops of the containers therein and spaced from the top of thebox body to provide above the ice shelf a container for a refrigerant,opposite walls of the: box body being horizontally slotted, and aresilient clamping member positioned above and pivoted to the ice shelfand adapted to be rotated and placed under stress with its opposite endsin said slots for the purpose of forcing the ice shelf tightly down uponthe assembled con-.

tainers to clamp said containers between the ice shelf and the bottom ofthe box body.

6. In a delivery box for milk containers, the combination of a box bodyhaving a bottom and foun walls of greater height than the containershoused therein, an ice shelf comprising a perforated metal platesubstantially coextensive with the interior horizontal cross sectionalsize of the box body and provided with a peripheral stiflening binding,saidice shelf resting upon the upper ends of the assembled containers inspaced relation to the top of the box body to' forrn above the ice shelfa receptacle for a refrigerant, opposite sides of the box body beingprovided at about the level of the ice shelf with horizontal slots, anda resilient clamping bar above the ice shelf' and pivoted thereto forswinging movement to permit the opposite ends of the bar to beintroduced into the slots with the bar under stress to force the iceshelf against the top of the containers and clamp the containers firmlybetween the ice shelf and the bottom of the box body.

7. In a delivery box for conical containers, the combination of a boxbody having four walls and a bottom and adapted to: receive interiorlysuch containers arranged alternately in upright and inverted positions,an ice shelf overlying all of the assembled containers in the box bodyand supported on the upper ends thereof in spaced relation to. the topof the box body to provide above the ice shelf a receptacle for arefrigerant, and means for clamping the ice shelf in engagement withsaid containers.

8. In a delivery box for conical containers, the combination of a boxbody having four walls and a bottom and adapted to receive interiorlysuch containers arranged alternately in upright and inverted positions,an ice shelf overlying all of the assembled containers in the box bodyand supported on the upper ends thereof in spaced relation to the top ofthe box body to' provide above the ice shelf a receptacle for arefrigerant, means for clamping the ice shelf in engagement with saidcontainers, and spacer flanges extendinterior of at least two oppositewalls of the box body and engaging with both upstanding and invertedadjacent containers to maintain the latter against tilting.

9.In a delivery box for conical containers, the combination of a boxbody having four walls and a bottom and adapted to receive interiorlyconical containers arranged alternately in upright and invertedpositions, an ice shelf overlying all of the assembled containers in thebox body and supported on the upper ends thereof in spaced relation tothe top of the box body toprovide above the ice shelf a receptacle for arefrigerant, and means for clamping the ice shelf in engagement withsaid containers, the bottom of the box body being formed to interfitwith at least some of the containers resting thereon.

10. In a delivery box for conical containers, the combination of a boxbody having four walls and a bottom and adapted to receive interiorlyconical containers arranged alternately in upright and invertedpositions, an ice shelf overlying all of the assembled containers in thebox body and resting on the upper ends thereof in spaced relation to thetop of the box body to provide above the ice shelf a receptacle for arefrigerant, and means for clamping the ice shelf in engagement withsaid containers, the bottom of the box body being provided withprojecting portions adapted to extend into the lower recessed ends ofthe inverted containers.

11. In a delivery box for conical containers, the combination of a boxbody having four walls and a bottom and adapted to receive interiorlyconical containers arranged alternately in upright and invertedpositions, an ice shelf overlying all of the assembled containers in thebox body and resting on the upper ends thereof in spaced relation to thetop of the box body to provide above the ice shelf a receptacle for arefrigerant, and means for clamping the ice shelf in engagement withsaid containers, the bottom of the box body being provided withprojecting portions adapted to extend into the lower recessed ends ofthe inverted containers and bear against the said ends.

12. In a delivery box for conical containers, the combination of a boxbody having four walls and a bottom and adapted to receive interiorlyconical containers arranged alternately in upright and invertedpositions, an ice shelf overlying all of the assembled containers in thebox body and supported on the upper ends thereof in spaced relation tothe top of the box body to provide above the ice shelf a receptacle fora refrigerant, and means for clamping the ice shelf in engagement withsaid containers, the bottom of the box body being formed to interfitwith the containers resting thereon.

13. A delivery box comprising four walls and a bottom and adapted tohouse containers having recessed ends closed by a cover cap bearing onan appropriate interior seat, the bottom of the box being provided withprojections of such shape and size as to extend into the depressions ofat least some of the containers to clamp the cap between the projectionand the cap seat when the weight of the container and its contents isimposed on said bottom.

14. A delivery box comprising four walls and a bottom and adapted tohouse containers having recessed ends closed by a cover cap bearing onan appropriate interior seat, the bottom of the box being provided withprojections of such shape and size as to extend into the depressions ofat least some of the containers to clamp the cap between the projectionand the cap seat when the weight of the container and its contents isimposed on said bottom, the tops of said projections being recessed torelieve pressure of the projections against the central portion of thecaps.

15. A delivery box comprising four walls and a bottom and adapted tohouse containers of conical form arranged alternately in upright andinverted positions and having recessed ends, the bottom of the box beingprovided with projections of different sizes adapted respectively toextend into the recessed ends of the upstanding and inverted containers.

JOHN A. HOPWOOD.

